Electric snap switch



`Iuy 27, 1937. J. WEBER ET AL ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed April lO, 19352 Sheets-Sheet l July 27, 1937. E WEEEE ET AE '2,088,147

E-LECTRIC SNAP SWITCH Filed April lO, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedJuly 27, 1937 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH John Weber and NicholasJ. Walsh, Schenectady, N. Y., assignors to Alpine Electric Corporation,Schenectady, N. Y., a corporation of New York Y Y Application April 10,1935, Serial No. 15,700

Claims.

The present invention relates to electric switches and contemplates adesign which may `be embodied compactly and assembled readily. r 'Iheinvention particularly relates to switches of 5 `the rotary type whereinoscillating actuating elements are provided, the oscillating elementsbeing moved manually in one direction and by torsion springs in theother direction. An. important l. object of the invention is tc providemeans `whereby the springs may be wound subsequent to assembly of theswitches.

We have shown two embodiments of the invention in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment utilizing a pull chainas switch actuating means.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the embodimentvof Figure l.

Figure 3 is an exploded View in. perspective of the embodiment of Figure1.

Figure 4 is a section substantially on line 4 4 Aof Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an embodiment utilizing a push buttonor plunger as switch actuating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment of Figure 5, and

Figure '1 is an exploded view' in perspective of the embodiment ofFigure 5.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 4, reference numeral2D designates generally a box-like housing or casing preferably made upof two parts 2| and 22 which are riveted or bolted l together and definebetween them a closed switch chamber. One side wall of the casing isconstituted by the` wall.23 of part 2| and the opposite side wall by thewall 24 of part 22, these two side walls being parallel, as here shown,and the casing parts abutting in a plane between these walls.

'40 The housing parts are of insulating material,

such as a phenolic condensation product.

Portion 2l is formed with rectangularly arranged end flanges 25, 26 andside flanges 21, 28, portion 22 having flanges 29, 3B and 3|, 32registering with the former when the two parts are brought together.Diagonally opposite corner portions of the housing are thickened andprovided with apertures through which the rivets 33 and 33a are passedto secure the parts together.

End walls 26 and 30 are provided with registering semi-circular recesses26a and 30a. which receive an externally threaded collar 34. At itsinner end the collar is reduced to form a shoulder on which is receivedan apertured square plate 35,

the extremity 36 of the collar being spun over the plate to secure thetwo together. Plate 35 is received in recesses 31 and 38 provided inparts 2i and 22, respectively, so as to hold the collar against axialmovement, a thin nut 39 being 5 screwed on the externally projectingportion of the collar. A finishing nut 4E) is screwed on the outerextremity of collar 34 and through the collar' and nut it is passed apull chain 4l. With nut 4E) removed, collar 34 may be passed through 10an aperture in a supporting plate, strip, canopy or fixture and then nut46 applied so that the plate is clamped between it and nut 39 to supportthe housing in desired position. Nut 43 has an internal shoulder whichlimits the extent to which 15 it may be threaded on collar 34. If thesupporting member is unusually thin, nut 39 may be screwed' outwardly sothat clamping action` may be effected.

Adjacent the right hand corner opposite collar `34, Figure 3, portion 2lis provided with an inwardly extending boss 42 which has a cylindricalrecess 43. Surrounding the boss are diametrical- 1y opposite inclinedsurfaces 44, 45 and 46, 41. Immediately inwardly of collar 34, part 2iis formed with a ledge 48 pierced at 49 and 50, the two openings beinginwardly constricted by means of annular ribs 5| and 52.

Contact strips 53 and 54 have shank portions formed with collets 53a and54a whichare passed into openings 49 and 5i) and turned under ribs 5land 52 to hold the contacts in position.

Hollow rivets could of course be used in place of the integral collets.Conductors 55 and 56 have their bare ends passed through the collets andsecured by drops of solder 51, 58. At their other ends strips 53 and 54have segments 53- andfi overlying the inclined surfaces 46 and 41 andlying flatly thereon. Surfaces 44 and 45 are exposed.

Directly opposite recess 43 portion 22 is provided with a similar recess6| and formed on the inner surface of wall 24 in concentric relation torecess 6i is a full Ycircular series of inclined teeth 62. Inwardly ofthis series of teeth wall 24 has formed therein an arcuate slot 63. Apost 64 has its ends engaged in recesses 43 and 6I so as to extenddirectly between walls 23 and 24 in perpendicular relation thereto.Inasmuch as recesses 43 and 6I are blind, the post is hel-d againstaxial movement. A preferably flexible insulating plate 65 overlies thecontact strips and closely follows the chamber contours so as to bepositioned thereby against edgewise movement. Plate 65 is provided witha circular opening 66 concentric with post 64 and with a recess 51 whichfits over a formation 61a, on ledge 48, this formation serving as achain guide. Opposite ledge 48 wall 23 has formed thereon a ledge E8,Figure 2, which underlies an edge of plate 65 and serves as a stoptherefor.

A rotary switch element 69 of metal, mounted on post 64, has offsetdiametrically opposite contact portions l@ and which simultaneously lieeither on fixed contacts 59 and (i or on the-inclined insulatingsurfaces 44 and 45. Member 69 has radially projecting lugs 'l2 spaced at90 intervals. Mounted on post 54 directly adjacent member E9 is a disc'i3 which has four tongues 14 offset toward member 69 and adapted toengage lugs 'l2 in one direction of movement of the disc. Disc 'i3 has acollar 'I5 providing an elongated bearing on post 64 and adjacent thecollar is a tongue 'F6 struck from the opposite side of the disc fromtongues 14. Further, disc 13 has two diametrically opposite projectingtongues 11.

A washer 'i8 of insulating material has an eccentric opening 'F9 in oneend of which is received collar l5, the collar being spaced from theedges of the opening. Tongue 16 is disposed in the opposite end of theopening and the Washer is rigidly secured to disc 'i3 by means of thetongues 'il which are bent into a notch 80 and a slot 8| in the washerand turned over the latter. One end of the washer is shaped as an arm 82provided on one side with a notch 83 which is engaged in one end of aloop 34, the other bent end of the loop having engaged therein the innerextremity of chain 4|. Arm 82 normally extends toward the upper lefthand corner of the housing, Figures l and 3, its movement in a clockwisedirection being limited by ange 25. A torsion spring 85 has at one end ahook 85a engaging tongue 15, the spring surrounding post t4 and collar'l5 projecting into the adjacent end thereof. 'Ihe other end of spring85 is radially extended as at 85D and is engaged by a tongue 89 struckfrom a disc 81, preferably of insulating material, which freelysurrounds post S4 adjacent wall 24 and lies within the circular seriesof teeth 52. The disc 81 is provided with peripheral notches Bla whichthrough slot 63 may be engaged by a suitable implement, for example apin, to rotate the disc. The extension 85h projects radially acrossteeth S2 and serves as a pawl for cooperation therewith, riding overthem without the necessity for any bodily displacement or" disc 8l.

The described parts may be conveniently assembled substantially in theorder shown in Figure 3, spring 85 being pcsitionable without initialtension. After assembly disc 8l' may be rotated as above described, thedisc carrying extension 85h with it and thus tensioning the spring tothe desired degree, the extension locking with one of teeth G2 to retainthe spring adjustment. Spring 85, it will be understood is a compressionspring as Well as a torsion spring and serves to urge the rotary switchmember 69 toward wall 23, disc i3 toward the switch member, spring end85D into engagement with a tooth 62, and disc i 8'! against wall 24.

It will be understood that when chain 4| is pulled a 90 movement isgiven to disc 13 and through tongues 'i4 to the rotary switch element69, spring 85 returning disc 13 relative to member 69 when the chain isreleased. Conductors 55 and 56 are connected when contact portions 1Dand 'll bridge the xed segments 59 and 60, the circuit being broken whenportions 1|) and 1| are on surfaces 44 and 45. Disc 'I3 is anoscillatory ratchet member for imparting rotary Irio-r tion to member69. Movement of disc 13 in a counterclockwise direction is limited byabutment of the expanded portion 89a of washer 18 with flange 28, thedisc having an oscillating angle of 90 plus.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of the fullcircular series of teeth 62 so that disc Bl'b has an unlimited range ofadjustment, thus enabling spring 85 to be tensioned adequately afterassembly. Furthermore, the described arrangement is extremely compactand provides a completely enclosed switch chamber. The housing partshave no undercut surfaces and thus may be readily die cast, although theinvention is not limited in this respect. Furthermore, while the housingpreferably has the rectangular shape shown, this may be varied ifdesired.

In the embodiment just described it will be evident that a torsionspring which must be wound in a clockwise direction can only be used inview of the fact that teeth 52 are operative as abutments only in onedirection. In the embodiment of the spring holding means shown inFigures to 7, either a dextrorse or a sinistrorse spring may be used,since the spring holding means is operative with either type. Inexemplification of this principle I have shown herein an assemblysubstantially the same as that heretofore described, but provided with apush button or plunger instead of a pull chain. When the plunger ispushed the spring is tensioned and actuates the switch when the plungeris released. 'Ihis being the case, it is evident that the torsion springmust be wound in the opposite direction from that in the firstembodiment.

Referring to Figures 5 to '7, reference numeral designates a housing ingeneral the same as that of Figure 1 and comprising the two parts 2| and22. The collar 34 is interiorly slightly different from the collar 94 ofthe first embodiment, having a relatively large inner cylindrical cavity9B constricted at its outer end by an annular flange 9|. A plunger 92has a main portion freely slidable in the constricted portion of thecollar and an enlarged butt 93 slidable in the portion 9G of the collar,outward movement of the plunger being limited through abutment of thebutt 93 with the flange 9|. end the plunger is provided with a conicalrecess 94. In as much as the butt may pass inwardly beyond the end ofthe collar to some extent, the ledge 48 of part 2|', Figure 7, isgrooved as at 95 to provide clearance.

The fixed contacts 53 and 54 are exactly the same as those heretoforedescribed, as are also the rotary switch member 69 and the ratchet disc13. The insulating plate 65 may be omitted since its principal purposein the first embodiment is to prevent the flexible pull chain fromcausing a short. The washer 18' has an arm 82 provided with an aperture9B, instead of the notch shown in Figure 3, and has engaged therein thebent end of a link 91 whose other end rests in recess 94, Figure 6.

Spring 85 is wound in the opposite direction from spring 85. Itsextremity 85a' adjacent disc 13 is carried out straight and instead ofbeing hooked under tongue I6 merely abuts the inner wall of the washeraperture 'i9'. The opposite end h of the spring is radially extended andis gripped by a tongue 86' of notched disc 81.

An annular rib 98 surrounds the bearing recess 6| on Wall 24' of part 22in concentric relation At its inner l since the spring :is notcompressed during adto the recess.

At intervals the rib is provided with threaded holes 99 which passthrough wall 24 and in any of these holes may be threaded a vscrew lili!which is inserted `from the front of wall 24 and whose inner end isadapted to be projected inwardly of rib 98. Within rib 98 wall 24 isprovided with an arcuate slot Y53.

After assembling the parts, disc 81 is engaged through opening 63 androtated in a counterclockwise direction to tension spring-85', screwlilo during this operation being screwed outwardly so that its inner endis flush with flange 98 or it is removed entirely. When the properadjustment of spring 85 has been made, screw is threaded inwardly in ahole 99 just behind end 85o' of spring 85 so that the spring is heldagainst unwinding. Washer 13 and disc 13 areV thus urged inalcounter-clockwise direction, being limited by the link 91 which isjust to the left, Figure '7, of a straight line position with plunger92. When the plunger'is pressed inwardly, ratchet disc 13 is rotated ina clockwise direction relative to rotary element ,69 through an angleslightly greater than- 90 Vand whenthe plunger is released spring 85revturns the parts, disc 13 carrying element 69 with it to the newposition. Movement of the disc 13 in a clockwise directionV is limitedthrough abutment of arm 32 of washer 13 with the inner face of flangeThe adjusting range of disc 81' is unlimited.

The discs 81 and 81', it will be noted, are rotatable in their planesofrest, i. e., areV not bodilydisplaced from a rest position to arojustment by a preliminary bodily'movement of `the disc, its properadjustment isrmore easily judged. Y

The slots 63 and E3 are confined within relatively small angles and thusdo not weaken the housing walls materially and, furthermor'eg'provideonly limited areas through which dust and dirt might enter the casings.`These areas, moreover, are closed by the discs 81 and 81 with theexception of the small openings presented by the notches. The slots needhave a length only sufficient to expose two adjacent disc notches; It isalso possible to predetermine approximately the position of the springends 85h and 85h so that they will not lie across the slots in theadjusting position of the springs and are vthus fully protected. If thespring end should come across the slot, the disc may be reverselyrotated relative thereto so as to bring a full disc portion thereover.

Variations in detail and arrangement from what has been described are,of course, possible without departure from the invention and accordinglywe do not limit ourselves except as in the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having oppositewalls, a post extending between said walls, switch mechanism including arotary element coaxial with said post, ratchet mechanism for drivingsaid rotary element and including an oscillatory member oscillable aboutsaid post, manual means for moving said oscillatory member in onedirection and a torsion spring surrounding said post and connected atone end to said oscillatory member for moving the latter in theV otherdirection, a rotatable disc on said post between the other end of saidspring and one of said walls and throughout an unlimited range totension said 15 spring, and means for holding the spring in any adjustedposition.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having oppositeWalls, la post extending between said walls, switchmechanismifloAincluding a rotary element coaxial with said post, ratchet mechanismfor driving said rotary element and including an oscillatory memberoscillable aboutY said post, manual means for moving said oscillatorymember in one di-i'l15 rection and a torsion spring surrounding saidpost and connected at one end to said oscillatory member for moving thelatter in the other direction, a rotatable disc on said post betweenAthe other end of said spring and one of saidfo walls, the end of saidspring adjacent said disc being extended'radially of the disc to projectbeyond the latter, means connecting the 'disc and said spring end sothat upon rotation of the" disc the spring is tensioned, said one ofsaid' 25 walls having a slot through which said disc is engageable to berotated, and means carried by said one of said walls for engaging saidspring end whereby to hold the spring in tension.

3. An electric switch comprising an oscillatoryfvo member, manual meansfor moving said member in one direction and a torsion spring connectedat one end to said member for movingthe same in Vthe otherdirection, adisc overlying and engagedU with the other end of said spring, means onthe* opposite side of the disc from the spring and against which thedisc constantly bears, lthe disc being, rotatable through any desiredrange to tension the spring, and means for retaining the spring in anyadjusted position, said last-namedl40 means comprising a full circularseries of teeth cooperable with the end of the spring adjacent saiddisc.

4. An electric switch comprising an oscillatory member, manual means formoving said memberi Y in one direction and a torsion spring connected atone end to said member for moving the same in the other direction, adisc overlying and engaged with the other end of said spring, means onthe opposite side of the Idisc from the spring and against which thedisc constantly bears, the disc being rotatable through any desiredrange to tension the spring, and means for retaining the spring'in anyadjusted position, said lastnamed means comprising a movable abutmentprojectable into engagement with the end of the spring adjacent saiddisc.

5. An electric switch comprising an oscillatory member, manual means formoving said member in one direction and a torsion spring connected atone end to said member for moving the same in the other direction, adisc overlying and engaged with the other end of said spring7 means onthe opposite side of the disc from the spring and against which the discconstantly bears, the disc being rotatable through any desired range totension the spring, and means for retaining the spring in any adjustedposition, said last-named means comprising an abutment disposable invarious positions about said disc to engage and hold the end of thespring adjacent said disc.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing, havingopposite walls, a post extending between said walls, switch mechanismincluding a rotary element coaxial with said post,

ratchet mechanism for driving said rotary element and including a memberoscillatory about said post, manual means for moving said oscillatorymember in one direction and a torsion spring surrounding said post andconnected at one end to said oscillatory member for moving the latter inthe other direction, a full circular series of teeth on the inner sideof one of said Walls concentric with said post, a rotatable disc on saidpost between the other end of said spring and said toothed wall andengaging the adjacent end of said spring, said toothed wall having aslot therein through which said disc may be engaged to be rotated, andmeans projecting from said disc and engageable with said teeth to holdthe spring in adjusted position, rotation of the disc serving to tensionsaid spring.

'7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a housing having Walls,a post extending between said walls, switch mechanism including a rotaryelement coaxial with said post, ratchet mechanism for driving saidrotary element and including an oscillatory member oscillable about saidpost, manual means for moving said oscillatory member in one directionand a torsion spring surrounding said post and connected at one end tosaid oscillatory member for moving the latter in the other direction, aseries of holes in one of said walls arranged on a circle concentricwith the axis of said post, a rotatable disc on said post between theother end of said spring and said one of said walls and engaging theadjacent end of said spring, said one of said walls having a slottherein through which said disc may be engaged to be rotated whereby totension said spring, and an abutment selectively disposable in saidholes to engage the adjacent end of said spring to hold the latter inadjusted position.

8. An electric switch comprising a housing, an oscillatory switch memberwithin the housing, manual means for moving said member in one directionand a torsion spring connected at one end to said member for moving thesame in the other direction, a disc overlying and engaged with the otherend of said spring, the casing having a wall on the opposite side of thedisc from the spring and against which the disc constantly bears, thedisc having peripheral notches and said wall having an arcuate slotthrough which the disc notches are engageable to rotate the disc throughany desired range to tension the spring, the disc covering said slotWith the exception of the exposed notches, and means for retaining thespring in any adjusted position.

9. An electric switch comprising a housing, an oscillatory switch memberwithin the housing, manual means for moving said member in one directionand a torsion spring connected at one end to said member for moving thesame in the other direction, a disc overlying and engaged with the otherend of said spring, the casing having a wall on the opposite side of thedisc from the spring and against which the disc constantly bears, thedisc having peripheral notches and said wall having an arcuate slotthrough which the disc notches are engageable to rotate the disc throughany desired range to tension the spring, the disc covering said slotwith the exception of the exposed notches, the slot being of a length toexpose only two adjacent disc notches, and means for retaining thespring in any adjusted position.

10. An electric switch comprising a housing, an oscillatory switchmember Within the housing, manual means for moving said member in onedirection and a torsion spring connected at one end to said member formoving the same in the,

other direction, a disc overlying and engaged with the other end of saidspring, the casing having a wall on the opposite side of the disc fromthe spring and against which the disc constantly bears, the disc havingperipheral notches and.

said wall having an arcuate slot through which the disc notches areengageable to rotate the disc through any desired range to tension thespring, the disc covering said slot with the exception of the exposednotches, and means for retaining the spring in any adjusted position,said last-named means comprising a series of teeth on the casing walladjacent said disc and cooperable with the end of the spring adjacentsaid disc.

JOHN WEBER.

NICHOLAS J. WALSH.

